Boundary:

Owner/s

Organisation Name

Owner Category

Date Ownership Updated

Sydney Water

State Government

Statement of significance:

The group of four reservoirs at Waverley demonstrates the progressive development of different construction techniques for reservoirs, the rapid growth of demand in the Sydney suburbs, and the need for greater elevation in order to connect reticulation mains to the higher suburban areas.

Waverley Reservoir (Elevated) (WS 136) is one of the most ornate and decorative of the reinforced concrete reservoirs, either elevated or surface, in the SWC system. The construction of the elevated over the covered reservoir indicates the high level of engineering expertise available in the MWS&DB in the early 20th century.

Date significance updated: 04 Dec 02

Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed in NSW. The Heritage Division intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance and other information for these items as resources become available.

Description

Physical description:

Waverley Reservoir (Elevated) (WS 136) is a reinforced concrete reservoir, with ornate and decorative sides. It is constructed over the roof of Waverley Reservoir No.2 (Covered) (WS 133), with the roof support columns of the covered reservoir also supporting the sides and base of the elevated reservoir. Both reservoirs were built together in an integrated and innovative fashion. The elevated reservoir has an unusual feature, namely an attached rectangular antechamber or valve house, with its exterior walls decorated in a similar fashion to the circular reservoir. The decorative features include pilasters framing panels with blocked and arched false windows. Above the entrance doorway is a shield with gothic script, "Sanitas est vita", and above that the following inscription "ERECTED / BY THE / METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY / AND SEWERAGE SYDNEY / 1918 AD".

Full Service Level: 121 m.
Capacity: 2.3 ML.

Date condition updated:19 Dec 01

Modifications and dates:

The reservoir has been roofed to safeguard water quality (1960s-1970s).

Further information:

See other three listings in Waverley Reservoir Group.
See other listings in Concrete Buttressed Reservoir Group.

Current use:

Reservoir.

Former use:

Reservoir

History

Historical notes:

Waverley Reservoir (Covered), nicknamed "Stonehenge" (WS 132), completed in 1887, was the last of four reservoirs built to augment the Botany Swamps Scheme (1858-1886). The other three reservoirs include:
- Crown Street Reservoir (WS 34), 1859,
- Paddington Reservoir, 1864 (disused and no longer owned by Sydney Water), and
- Woollahra Reservoir (WS 144), 1880.
However Waverley Reservoir (WS 132) was not supplied solely by Botany Swamps Water, because by 1886 the Hudson Scheme had come on line, supplying water from the Upper Nepean, prior to the completion of that Scheme in 1888. Water was pumped from Woollahra Reservoir for the first six years of its service, then from Crown Street Reservoir in 1893. From 1927 onwards Waterloo Pumping Station took over supply of the reservoir.

Waverley Reservoir (WS 132) was the highest of the reservoirs intended to be supplied by Botany Swamps. However it soon became apparent that additional height was required for reticulation purposes. This led to the construction of two elevated steel tanks in 1894 (now demolished). With increasing demand, these tanks were eventually superceded by the present Waverley Reservoir (Elevated) (WS 136) and Waverley Reservoir No.2 (Covered) (WS 133), both completed in 1917. Final augmentation of supply took place in 1938 with the construction of Waverley Reservoir No.3 (WS 134).

The group of four reservoirs not only supply the Eastern Suburbs by gravitation, but also supply Bellevue Hill (WS 10) by pumping station.

The Waverley Reservoir Group not only demonstrates the dramatic increase in demand from 1887 through to 1938, but also the progression and development of reservoir construction techniques, rarely seen on any other SWC site.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)

New South Wales theme

Local theme

4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities

Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis

(none)-

Assessment of significance

SHR Criteria a)[Historical significance]

This reservoir and site demonstrates particularly well the amplification in demand due to growing population.

SHR Criteria c)[Aesthetic significance]

Waverley Reservoir (Elevated) (WS 136) is one of the most ornate and decorative of the reinforced concrete reservoirs, either elevated or surface. The construction of the elevated over the covered reservoir indicates the high level of engineering expertise available in the MWS&DB in the early 20th century.

SHR Criteria e)[Research potential]

The group of four reservoirs at Waverley demonstrates the progressive development of different construction techniques for reservoirs and the need for greater elevation in order to connect reticulation mains to the higher suburban areas.

SHR Criteria f)[Rarity]

One of a small group of elevated concrete reservoirs on a concrete pier stand in the SWC system. One of only two sites in the Sydney Water Supply System where the structure of one reservoir is integrated with another using innovative technology.

Recommended management:

Manage the place and its significant components in accordance with the State Owned Heritage Asset Management Guidelines.
Where no Conservation Management Plan, Heritage Assessment or Statement of Heritage Impact is in place, or where works are outside the scope existing heritage documentation, assess heritage impacts of proposed works in accordance with Sydney Water Environment Impact Assessment procedures. Undertake a Heritage Assessment and/or Statement of Heritage Impact as required by EIA procedures.
Where the item is listed in a Local Environmental Plan Schedule of Heritage items, determine if works are exempt from approval under the LEP provisions. Where works are not exempt, obtain necessary approvals from the local council, in accordance with SWC EIA Guidelines.
Undertake archival and photographic recording before major changes, in accordance with Heritage Council guidelines. Lodge copies of the archival record with the Sydney Water Archives and the NSW Heritage Office.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act

Description

Title

Comments

Action date

21(1)(b)

Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement

Waverley Reservoirs Site Draft CMP, prepared by Sydney Water for Sydney Water, dated October 2004.

CMP received for review and endorsement 27 October 2004

57(2)

Exemption to allow work

Standard Exemptions

SCHEDULE OF STANDARD EXEMPTIONS
HERITAGE ACT 1977
Notice of Order Under Section 57 (2) of the Heritage Act 1977

I, the Minister for Planning, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales, do by this Order:

1. revoke the Schedule of Exemptions to subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act made under subsection 57(2) and published in the Government Gazette on 22 February 2008; and

2. grant standard exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977, described in the Schedule attached.

FRANK SARTOR
Minister for Planning
Sydney, 11 July 2008

To view the schedule click on the Standard Exemptions for Works Requiring Heritage Council Approval link below.